While offering the same look as neon, led neon flex use less energy while offering greater durability
With its art décor-inspired architecture and many dining, arts and entertainment options, the Tower District just north of downtown Fresno, Calif., is a highly desirable area to live. Unfortunately, affordable housing can be hard to find — putting the district out of reach for many entry-level renters.
But now just to the south — on what previously was an empty and unsightly lot — a new 31-unit live/work development called 541 @ South Tower offers an affordable, stylish alternative for young professionals. Located between the Tower District and downtown Fresno, the development was designed by Marvin Armstrong, Architect and features the art-deco flair seen on many area buildings: curved ornamental elements and geometric designs outlined in what appears to be colorful neon. However, the lighting is actually iLight Plexineon — LED fixtures that offer all the advantages of neon, without the downsides.
“The overall effect is really striking. You can see it from the highway. The quality of the light is so strong — the line work is really good, and the brightness and color are just perfect.”
– Marvin Armstrong, Principal, Marvin Armstrong, Architect
Source: ilight-tech

Plexineon provides glow inside new Blue Moon Brewing Company restaurant
In 1995, Denver-based Blue Moon Brewing Company got its start in the basement of Coors Field. More than 20 years later, the brand is a subsidiary of MillerCoors, but in a nod to its local, craft brewer roots, Blue Moon has opened its own brewery and restaurant in Denver’s River North neighborhood.
From a functional standpoint, the 30,000-square-foot standalone structure now provides what the space in the ballpark could not — dining and event space that also serves as a laboratory for research and development.
Aesthetically speaking, the design team literally looked to the moon for inspiration — conceiving large-scale circular elements to help fill the wide-open interior space.
The result are two 16-foot circles and 12 6-foot diameter rings made out of iLight Plexineon LED fixtures. Suspended from the high ceilings, they create warm haloes of light.
“At night it definitely reminds me of a neon light. When people see it, they’re pretty taken aback. They ask what it is. The client loves the space.”
– Adam Harding, Partner, Roth Sheppard Architects, LLP
Source: ilight-tech

Plexineon provides glow inside new Blue Moon Brewing Company restaurant
In 1995, Denver-based Blue Moon Brewing Company got its start in the basement of Coors Field. More than 20 years later, the brand is a subsidiary of MillerCoors, but in a nod to its local, craft brewer roots, Blue Moon has opened its own brewery and restaurant in Denver’s River North neighborhood.
From a functional standpoint, the 30,000-square-foot standalone structure now provides what the space in the ballpark could not — dining and event space that also serves as a laboratory for research and development.
Aesthetically speaking, the design team literally looked to the moon for inspiration — conceiving large-scale circular elements to help fill the wide-open interior space.
The result are two 16-foot circles and 12 6-foot diameter rings made out of iLight Plexineon LED fixtures. Suspended from the high ceilings, they create warm haloes of light.
“At night it definitely reminds me of a neon light. When people see it, they’re pretty taken aback. They ask what it is. The client loves the space.”
– Adam Harding, Partner, Roth Sheppard Architects, LLP
Source: ilight-tech

From Dismal To Dazzling
Plexineon Redefines an Existing Structure
Once a humble workshed, the new administrative center for the Claremont University Consortium (CUC) in Claremont, California, is a stunning study in how creative light installations can give an existing structure a second life.
Central to the building’s rebirth is a vertical linear pattern of iLight Plexineon White 1X Series fixtures that highlight the exterior — redefining the structure’s public presence and acting as a precursor to new dynamic and user-friendly interior.
The Design Challenge
The goal of the project was to consolidate into one location several departments and services that previously were dispersed across campus. Opting to repurpose a gabled-roof workshop and storage shed went a long way toward achieving sustainability goals, but the CUC sought to go a step further — requiring that elements in the adaptive design also be environmentally sensitive, including lighting.
Toward that end, Nelson Jenkins, Owner of Lumen Architecture, used varying lengths of White Plexineon to efficiently and effectively accentuate the vertical lines of a new slatted cedar screen that envelopes the existing facade.
LTL Architects, project architect, designed the screen to make the building appear less utilitarian and more inviting.
That intent is especially apparent as the screen transitions from wall to entry canopy, where the slats are threaded with Plexineon in increased density to playfully highlight the structure’s sloped geometry while providing general illumination and way finding.
“The client really loves the effect of the Plexineon. The project has been considered a great success.” – Nelson Jenkins, Owner, Lumen Architecture PLLC
The Plexineon Advantage
Jenkins chose Plexineon in this case for several reasons. “The fixtures are weather resistant, durable, and they provide just the right brightness,” he says.
Due to past experience with the product, Plexineon’s reliability won over both him and now CUC.
“The client really loves the effect of the Plexineon,” he says. “The project has been considered a great success.”
Vertical strips of Plexineon highlight the entrance to the new Claremont University Consortium (CUC) administrative center. A random pattern of Plexineon adds excitement to what had been a bland structure.
More information is available at www.ilight-tech.com

Hastings Bridge
Spanning the Mississippi River and glowing thanks to Plexineon linear LED fixtures, the Hastings Bridge is longest free-standing tied-arch bridge in North America. Plexineon outlines the shape of the bridge, while illuminating the cables connecting the arch to the deck.
Lighting an Award-winning Bridge
Plexineon Illuminates a Historic River Town’s Newest Icon
Founded in 1857 and located at the junction of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, the town of Hastings, Minnesota, takes pride in its rich, historical past — and its bridges.
From 1895 to 1951, a unique Spiral Bridge spanned the Mississippi and looped through Hastings’ small downtown. That structure was replaced in 1951 by the Hastings High Bridge, a continuous steel through truss structure that served as the town’s icon for the next 50-plus years. But after the 2007 collapse of the I-35 bridge 30 miles upstream in St. Paul, the Minnesota Legislature passed funding to accelerate repair and/or replacement of fracture critical bridges. The Hastings High Bridge was advanced from a construction date of 2015 to a construction date of 2010.
The result is a new signature bridge — a $120 million structure designed by Parsons Transportation, with bridge architecture by Touchstone Architecture and Consulting. The longest free-standing tied-arch bridge in North America, it has a main span composed of arches, girders, beams, stringers, and roadway comprising four lanes of traffic plus a mixed-use pedestrian and bike path. At night, it is illuminated by iLight Plexineon White 1X fixtures that are in step with the quiet beauty of the environment and the soul of a community with small-town charm.
The Design Challenge
That desire to complement, not detract from, the natural setting was expressed by community stakeholders during the design approval process.
“Residents have a strong emotional connection to the bridge,” says Ken Douglas, Principal and Founder, Illumination Arts LLC. “When it came to the lighting, they wanted to highlight the bridge, but without a lot of glitz and glamour.”
“Plexineon creates a line of light that’s pleasing to look at from multiple viewpoints.” – Elizabeth Johnson, Senior Designer, Illumination Arts LLC
The firm had used Plexineon before, but never for a bridge project. “This was a great opportunity to use the product,” Douglas says.
Working in close collaboration with Touchstone, the Illumination Arts team proposed tracing the bridge’s arches with Plexineon — a way to subtly accentuate the shape of the bridge against the night sky, while creating a soft reflection in the river. The lighting also illuminates the thin cables that connect the arches to the deck.
The Plexineon Advantage
After winning community approval of the design, the firm worked with iLight Technologies to ensure smooth execution. Elizabeth Johnson, Senior Designer at Illumination Arts, says the entire process was “well coordinated, especially on the shop drawings. I think the planning and details really paid off.”
A Minnesota native, Johnson made a point to see the finished result herself when she returned home weeks after the bridge opened in 2013.
“I was really pleased with how the installation detail looked up close from the pedestrian path,” she says. “Plexineon creates a line of light that’s pleasing to look at from multiple viewpoints — whether you’re walking over the bridge or seeing it from the riverbank.”
The new bridge has already become a new source of civic pride in Hastings. It also has quickly garnered awards, including being named the 2014 Midwest Best Project of the Year in the Highways/Bridges category by Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine.
More information is available at www.ilight-tech.com

The sign at the entrance to the new TopGolf in Houston glows with iLight Plexineon Blue Series fixtures
iLight custom bent the Plexineon to ensure a true representation of the TopGolf logo
Creating an Entrance That Fits to a Tee
Plexineon Adds Excitement to a Sleek and Unique Sporting Venue
Just off a major interstate running through Houston, TopGolf is a structure that’s impossible to miss.
The 65,000-square foot venue is not only sprawling, its sleek profile suggests something extraordinary.
Inside, a three-level golf driving range plus dining, live music, a rooftop bar and more deliver on that promise. Meanwhile outside, the entrance makes guests feel like VIPs, thanks to a sign that glows with iLight Plexineon Blue Series fixtures.
The Design Challenge
The first TopGolf to open in Houston, the new entertainment complex is the Dallas-based company’s largest in the country.
Designed by Aria Group Architects, Inc., the modern design is unexpected, reflecting the unique concept behind TopGolf. Part sports venue, part sophisticated hangout spot, it appeals to avid and casual golfers alike. The centerpiece is the driving range, featuring private hitting bays from which players hit targets and accrue points for distance and accuracy. Points are calculated by microchips embedded into regulation golf balls.
“It was stunning when we first saw it — really amazing. The Plexineon added that extra element we needed.” – Nicole Poole, Project Architectural Designer, Aria Group Architects, Inc.
To catch the attention of passers-by on the interstate, plans called for creating a bright sign that would serve as a shield on the building. The design team wanted an energy-efficient solution and — since it would be displayed within arm’s reach of arriving patrons — one that wouldn’t pose a safety hazard.
Plexineon not only met those requirements, it could also be custom bent to create endless possibilities.
“When we realized it could be shaped any way we wanted, we decided to do an overscale TopGolf logo and use blue — their primary branding color,” says Nicole Poole, Project Architectural Designer at Aria Group.
The Plexineon Advantage
The key was for iLight to create precise factory bends that would ensure a true representation of the TopGolf logo.
Lisa Maceda, Designer at Aria Group, says, “It could not have worked out better. iLight custom bent the Plexineon perfectly. It was easy to install from start to finish.”
The result is a striking, yet sophisticated, sign. “It definitely is an eye-catcher,” Maceda says. “We’d seen samples, but it was still surprising how really bright the Plexineon was. It has a great glow to it — very even, not overpowering.”
Poole agrees. “It was stunning when we first saw it — really amazing. The Plexineon added that extra element we needed.”
Noting that the new site’s VIP opening was TopGolf’s most successful yet, she says Plexineon was the perfect compliment to the red carpet experience: “It just added to the excitement.”
Within view of a nearby interstate, the sign is bright enough to attract attention
More information is available at www.ilight-tech.com

Counting Down at W Hotel-Times Square
Animated use of Plexineon evokes New Year’s Eve in The Big Apple
The W Hotel New York-Times Square recently unveiled a $10 million renovation of its lobby — known at all W hotels as “the Living Room.”
Evoking eras gone by, from gilded theaters to disco, the space celebrates Times Square in all its grit and glory — including as an iconic New Year’s Eve destination.
That pivotal passage of time is immediately apparent as guests check in. Behind the welcome desk, a countdown to the new year is among several animations made possible by a creative use of iLight Plexineon White LED light fixtures. Also, in the nearby bar/lounge area, Plexineon provides a stunning geometric backdrop for a DJ booth and dance floor.
“It’s a great product – solid, reliable and especially great when you need a direct view LED.”
– Jeff Shepherd, Senior Lighting Designer, Brian Orter Lighting Design
The Design Challenge
On all those feature walls, the vision included recreating the look of a vintage digital clock, says Jeff Shepherd, Senior Lighting Designer at BOLD – Brian Orter Lighting Design. He and the rest of BOLD’s design team on the project — Brian Orter, Charlie Dumais, Timothy Hart, Francesca Bucci Vernizzi-Miron, and Eleanor Macdonald — had used Plexineon in hospitality settings before.
It took careful planning to determine how all of the numbers needed for a countdown could be formed with 13-segment Plexineon segments — but Shepherd says Plexineon was “an absolute must” to execute the vision.
“It’s a great product – solid, reliable and especially great when you need a direct view LED,” he adds. “Anything else would have needed additional diffusion, but with Plexineon, it’s built right in.”
Another challenge was programming the countdown and other animations. “It’s an unconventional use, for sure,” he adds. “I played with some samples, and after a while, I knew it would work.”
The Plexineon Advantage
All along, quality was a given for Shepherd, but even he was amazed that after receiving 1,625 segments for the project, no extras had to be ordered. “Reliability is a major selling point — the fact the fixtures are burned in beforehand, the quality that goes into the manufacturing and testing, and the high degree of product support that iLight provides.”
Installation also presented no obstacles. “Plexineon is no-muss, no-fuss for the contractor,” Shepherd says.
Today, the result is just as he hoped. The dynamic countdown and other animations create theatrical effects all their own. “I’m tickled,” he says. “It turned out beautifully. People see it and love it. It looks amazing.”
BOLD combined Plexineon and DMX controls to create a unique and welcoming check-in area
Artful animation of Plexineon segments took planning and vision.
More information is available at www.ilight-tech.com

Spanning the Mississippi River and glowing thanks to Plexineon linear LED fixtures, the Hastings Bridge is longest free-standing tied-arch bridge in North America.
Plexineon outlines the shape of the bridge, while illuminating the cables connecting the arch to the deck
Lighting an Award-winning Bridge
Plexineon Illuminates a Historic River Town’s Newest Icon
Founded in 1857 and located at the junction of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, the town of Hastings, Minnesota, takes pride in its rich, historical past — and its bridges.
From 1895 to 1951, a unique Spiral Bridge spanned the Mississippi and looped through Hastings’ small downtown. That structure was replaced in 1951 by the Hastings High Bridge, a continuous steel through truss structure that served as the town’s icon for the next 50-plus years. But after the 2007 collapse of the I-35 bridge 30 miles upstream in St. Paul, the Minnesota Legislature passed funding to accelerate repair and/or replacement of fracture critical bridges. The Hastings High Bridge was advanced from a construction date of 2015 to a construction date of 2010.
The result is a new signature bridge — a $120 million structure designed by Parsons Transportation, with bridge architecture by Touchstone Architecture and Consulting. The longest free-standing tied-arch bridge in North America, it has a main span composed of arches, girders, beams, stringers, and roadway comprising four lanes of traffic plus a mixed-use pedestrian and bike path. At night, it is illuminated by iLight Plexineon White 1X fixtures that are in step with the quiet beauty of the environment and the soul of a community with small-town charm.
The Design Challenge
That desire to complement, not detract from, the natural setting was expressed by community stakeholders during the design approval process.
“Residents have a strong emotional connection to the bridge,” says Ken Douglas, Principal and Founder, Illumination Arts LLC. “When it came to the lighting, they wanted to highlight the bridge, but without a lot of glitz and glamour.”
“Plexineon creates a line of light that’s pleasing to look at from multiple viewpoints.” – Elizabeth Johnson, Senior Designer, Illumination Arts LLC
The firm had used Plexineon before, but never for a bridge project. “This was a great opportunity to use the product,” Douglas says.
Working in close collaboration with Touchstone, the Illumination Arts team proposed tracing the bridge’s arches with Plexineon — a way to subtly accentuate the shape of the bridge against the night sky, while creating a soft reflection in the river. The lighting also illuminates the thin cables that connect the arches to the deck.
The Plexineon Advantage
After winning community approval of the design, the firm worked with iLight Technologies to ensure smooth execution. Elizabeth Johnson, Senior Designer at Illumination Arts, says the entire process was “well coordinated, especially on the shop drawings. I think the planning and details really paid off.”
A Minnesota native, Johnson made a point to see the finished result herself when she returned home weeks after the bridge opened in 2013.
“I was really pleased with how the installation detail looked up close from the pedestrian path,” she says. “Plexineon creates a line of light that’s pleasing to look at from multiple viewpoints — whether you’re walking over the bridge or seeing it from the riverbank.”
The new bridge has already become a new source of civic pride in Hastings. It also has quickly garnered awards, including being named the 2014 Midwest Best Project of the Year in the Highways/Bridges category by Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine.
Plexineon’s light is pleasing from multiple viewpoints and subtly complements the surrounding natural setting

To create an even greater WOW effect, animate your Plexineon design with a DMX system.
This 80’ x 80’ art piece, Quadrille, uses over 1,000 feet of various Plexineon colors and is 200 feet in the air on the side of the Duke Energy Building in Charlotte, North Carolina. Distinct programmed animations are randomly selected so that a commuter never sees the same animation at the same time on subsequent days. Quadrille was designed by Michael Hayden who also designed Sky’s the Limit, the animated, neon ceiling art over the United Airlines underground walkway at O’Hare International Airport.
More information is available at www.ilight-tech.com